make 'em work

[anotheranon]

Today was a rough day at practice.

My allergies are still acting up, which leave me gasping through my scratchy throat for enough air to keep going. I overworked my knee first bout out (note to self: the "Betty Boop exercise" exists for a reason). The A/C at club is still not working well.

I was hot, sore, and wheezing. Which are not insurmountable, but trying to think coherently while they're all going on at the same time meant that I couldn't pin together a strategy to save my life.

So after an hour I was so irritable I was about to tell the little annoying kid *exactly* what I thought of him....

...and decided to change my attitude and just make my opponents work for every touch they got.

That is when things started coming together. By backing up and concentrating on defense I gave my overclocked brain enough time to see what was going on and attack/riposte was incidental.

In this way I defeated Tall Dude with Insanely Long Reach and Blisteringly Fast Lefty Lady (not their real names).

Imagine if I'd start doing this when I DON'T feel like ass?

After two strikingly successful bouts, I was pale, dizzy, and chortling to myself, I do better when I feel worse. Immediately I realized that if I'm lightheaded and giggling like an idiot, I probably oughta go home :P

Comments

[fencerchica.livejournal.com]

Nice to hear about your good fencing night! This is why I think fencing while mildly hung over can sometimes be a good thing. ;-)

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on victory in combat conditions ... sounds as if your survival instinct clicked in very successfully.

Captain Alatriste would be proud of you. :-)